-
1NT opening bid
Suitable hands
“1NT is a limit bid because it shows a precise point count range”
Notrump opening bids show a
balanced hand
and can be made with a weak
five-card major
suit or a
five-card minor
suit.To open 1NT if possible you should try to ensure that you can control all your suits by having an
honor card
in each. You should also have an honor card of Queen or higher in all of the suits and your hand should not contain a void, a singleton or a worthless doubleton.
Distribution of your hand can be in either of the three following patterns
5, 3, 3, 2
or
4, 3, 3, 3
or
4, 4, 3, 2
If your cards are in either of these three patterns your hand is called "balanced" or "flat"
Distribution of your hand can be in either of the three following patterns
5, 3, 3, 2
or
4, 3, 3, 3
or
4, 4, 3, 2
If your cards are in either of these three patterns your hand is called "balanced" or "flat"
Opening with a 1NT Bid
· 12-14 HCP · Your hand may contain a 5 card minor suit |
*Note
A doubleton when in a NoTrump contract should contain an honor card with the rank of Queen or higher. If the doubleton has two cards neither of which is a Q or higher then it is referred to as a "worthless doubleton" because effectively there are no stoppers in that suit
Exercise: With the hand below, what would you open the bidding?
Your Hand
- ♠ K 9
- ♥ A 7 5
- ♦ K 10 8 7
- ♣ A 7 6 3
Answer: Open 1NT with this hand, you have no Major suit a balanced hand and and 14 HCP
Practice Game for this lesson (with full commentary)
Practice UNLIMITED 'Opening 1NT' hands on your computer here (without commentary)
When you have finished this game, progress to subsequent games on the same lesson by selecting "Next" on the blue menu above the Game Screen
When you have finished this game, progress to subsequent games on the same lesson by selecting "Next" on the blue menu above the Game Screen
Previous: Openers First Bid
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